**AMLO Denounces ‘Pink Tide’ Protests Against Overrepresentation**
On August 12, 2024, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador condemned members of the “Pink Tide” protest composed of over 200 non-governmental organizations. The protest took place the previous day in front of the National Electoral Institute (INE) headquarters, calling for action against the overrepresentation of Morena and its allied parties—the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT)—in the Union Congress.
Bertha Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz, a former presidential candidate representing the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), National Action Party (PAN), and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) coalition “Force and Heart for Mexico,” attended the demonstration.
During his morning press conference from the Treasury Hall of the National Palace, López Obrador (often referred to as AMLO) criticized the protest, claiming it sought to manipulate public opinion and pointing out the low turnout. “Yesterday there was a demonstration with little presence, yet they keep lying to the people. I saw some attendees who didn’t even understand why they were protesting, due to all the manipulation,” he remarked.
AMLO further challenged the demands of the protesters, suggesting that constitutional experts would be needed to interpret their petitions. He reiterated that the people had supported the reforms proposed by Morena in previous elections, including changes to the Federal Judiciary, which had received a qualified majority in Congress.
Reflecting on the transformation in public perception, AMLO expressed pride in what he termed a revolution of consciousness and criticized attitudes he deemed elitist. He argued that past election outcomes demonstrated a shift towards genuine democracy.
On August 11, 2024, hundreds gathered outside the INE to demand that the councilors curb “wild” overrepresentation of Morena and its allies in Congress. Leonardo Antonio Valdés Zurita, former president of the now-extinct Federal Electoral Institute (IFE), read a 13-point document delivered to the autonomous constitutional body, which would make proportional representation decisions on August 23, 2024.
Protesters, including former opposition presidential candidate Gálvez Ruiz, called for seat distribution by coalitions rather than parties. They argued that the Constitution’s intent was to prevent any single political force from holding a qualified majority in the legislative branch.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the virtual elected President of Mexico, dismissed the protesters’ claims, stating, “People are free to protest, but that doesn’t mean they are correct. Proportional representation is defined by long-standing rules; there is no overrepresentation,” during a tour in Tepic, Nayarit, with López Obrador.
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**Secondary Article: Former Officials and Political Figures Weigh in on Pink Tide Protests**
As the “Pink Tide” protest against the overrepresentation of Morena and its allies continues to make headlines, various political figures and former officials have voiced their opinions on the matter.
Former Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) councilor María Marván Laborde emphasized that electoral laws and regulations have been consistently applied, stating, “The rules governing proportional representation have not changed; they are designed to ensure fair representation across all political spectrums.”
Jorge Alcocer, a political analyst, argued that the complaints from the opposition were exaggerated and stemmed more from a fear of losing political influence than from genuine legal concerns. “What’s happening is a recalibration of power dynamics. The opposition is reacting to the shifting landscape rather than fundamental disparities in representation,” Alcocer explained.
In contrast, opposition leader Marko Cortés from the National Action Party (PAN) supported the protesters’ stance. “The Constitution aims to prevent any political monopoly, and what’s happening now with Morena is setting a dangerous precedent for Mexican democracy,” Cortés asserted.
As the debate continues, it is evident that the conversation about political representation and electoral reforms is far from over, with both sides gearing up for a prolonged battle in the legal and public arenas.